Horseshoe



(Model.)

T. DOYLE.l HORSESHOE.

N0. 271,228. PaAzented Jan. 30,1883.

N. PtriRs. Phourumagmpmr, wmmngmn, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS DOYLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

HoRsEsHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,228, dated January 30, 1883.

v Application filed March 26, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS DOYLE, of the city vand county of San Francisco, State of Galifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horseshoes, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention consists in the combination, with an ordinary iron horseshoe, of a steel wearing-surface or sole in such a manner that the ends of the steel sole form springs under the heel of the shoe, as hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view in elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of the shoe. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through a: y, Fig. 2.

Let A represent an ordinary iron horseshoe. In the under side of this shoe I make a groove or channel, b, extending entirely around the shoe from heel to heel, taking care to leave a narrow portion of metal between the ends of the groove and the ends of the shoe.

C is a narrow steel bar, which is as long as the groove and just wide enough to lit in it. This bar I bend into the horseshoe shape to correspond to the shape ot' the groove or channel b. The ends of this bar are bent outward, so that when the main length of the bar from the quarter on each side'around the toe portion of the shoe lits closely down in the groove the end portions at the heel will stand outward to form the springs. I then heat the shoe and bar an d weld them together from the quarter on each side around the toe portion, leaving the ends of the bar standing outward, so as to form springs, as above stated.v 4 In the groove, underneath the end of each spring, I place a smallwedge-shaped piece of india-rubber, c, against which the ends of the springs will press when they are forced up into the groove by the weight ofthe animal. This cushion will prevent the sudden jar and bend which cause crystallization of the metal, as the springs will act Igradually and :more uniformly throughout their length. The bar O is thick enough to project below the under side of the shoe A and form a steel sole or wearing-surface, which will cause the shoe to be more durable than an iron shoe, and when the steel sole is worn down it can be removed, if desired, and replaced by a new one, so that the iron portion will last an indelinite length of time. The springs are guided by the sides of thegroove, 'so that they cannot become displaced, and they it so snugly in the groove that no dirt can get under them to interfere with their action. Heel and toecalks can be applied to the bar without interfering with the action of the springs.

Any competent method of securin g the steel bar in the groove can be employed; but welding them together, as above mentioned, is the most convenient and most reliable. The groove need not be a inished and true one before the welding, as the edges of the shoe can be readily hammered or swaged, when heated, so as to t the sides of the groove against the sides of the bar.

- I thus provide a spring-shoe for horses, that will wear a great length of time without getting out of repair, and which cannot by any possibility injure the horses foot, because the entire action of the spring is confined to the groove in the under side of the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

A horseshoe having groovesone in each limbon the under or ground side extending from the extremities or heels to or toward the toe, and a metallic spring bar or tread fastened to the shoe at or-near the toe, and lying within and extending to the ends of said grooves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

THOMAS DOYLE. Witnesses:

J oHN RAEFERTY, WM. H. CLARK. 

